Tuqiri says Cooper could make it in league
It could be a nice fit for Queensland and Australia: Darren Lockyer out, rugby union sensation Quade Cooper in.
If reports that Brisbane's proposed second NRL team in 2013 have earmarked Cooper as a priority on their recruiting radar are correct, then it's not beyond the realms of possibility the Reds five-eighth could fill the No.6 jumper of the player he grew up wanting to emulate.
Opinion is divided over whether the enigmatic Cooper, a brilliant attacking player, could handle the physicality of being targeted in defence like Lockyer, but there's no doubting he has the class.
Dual international and former Brisbane star Lote Tuqiri says Cooper would be an instant success in rugby league.
"Whatever he wanted to play, I think he'd go well but the bid has to get off the ground first before they start talking about signing players," said the Tigers winger.
"He'd make an easy transition I'd think.
"I texted him a few times (when he was considering joining Parramatta last season) ... I think he was (seriously considering rugby league)."
Cooper has already said he wants to play State of Origin.
He recently signed a one year extension with the Australian Rugby Union to take him through to the end of the 2012 season, making him available for any new venture should the NRL grant a licence to extra teams in 2013.
Initial talk of securing both Cooper and All Black superstar Sonny Bill Williams would seem a little ambitious given the money both players, both managed by Khoder Nasser, would command on the open player market.
"They would each bring different dynamics to the team," said Davison when asked which player was the consortium's preference.
"If we got one of them, we'd be elated," said Craig Davison, the man behind the bid for a second NRL club in Brisbane.
When asked about signing Sonny Bill Williams by AAP earlier this year, Davison doubted it would be possible given the massive dollars he was being offered overseas.
However, when contacted again on Wednesday, he said Williams was playing rugby union for a third of the money he could get in Europe and could bring his own third party deals with him, improving his chances of signing up to a new league club.
"It would all come down to whether Sonny Bill wanted a couple of years in a new team in Brisbane, on less money, again with third parties backing him up, and then a few years later go back to Europe," he said.
Davison confirmed a number of NRL players had already agreed to terms with the Brisbane bid team provided it gained admission to the competition in 2013.
"There's a confidence issue in naming any players but I can tell you a lot of players and their managers have approached us which is pretty exciting," he said.
They have already sounded out several coaching candidates although none fall into the high profile category with their first choice on his way to Newcastle next season.
"Most high profile coaches are signed off, I mean you can't get Wayne Bennett for instance," he said.
"We've looked to England and the Queensland Cup scene and some of the coaches we've spoken to don't have jobs at the moment.
"There's a few available but we're still looking. It's going to be a tough one for us."
Post a comment about this article
Please sign in to leave a comment.
Becoming a member is free and easy, sign up here.